NHS Property Services (NHSPS) has appointed public relations expert Simon Richards as its new head of communications.

In his role, Richards will manage and direct NHS Property Services’ external and internal communications, implementing strategies and campaigns to communicate with its customers and the public on the valuable work it is doing to transform the NHS estate to provide excellent patient care.

NHS Property Services is a limited company within the Department of Health and Social Care, responsible for approximately 10% of the entire NHS estate and is actively reducing costs, creating a more efficient estate and unlocking value in surplus land for reinvestment back into modernising the healthcare estate.

Richards joins NHS Property Services from leading public relations and communications firm Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW), where he was a director in the issues and public affairs team. While at BCW, Richards was responsible for strategic counsel and programme execution across a range of disciplines, including public relations, public affairs, reputation and crisis management, and digital strategies.

Prior to his role at BCW, Richards was an account director at FleishmanHillard Fishburn. Richards was included in PRWeek’s UK’s 30 Under 30 list for 2017 and was also that year named ‘Rising star of the year’ by the International Communications Consultancy Organisation. Before that, Richards worked for several years in the House of Commons as a political researcher.

He says, “As the NHS estate modernises, the work of NHS Property Services is more important than ever. As the health service’s property experts, acting as landlord, advisor and service provider throughout the country, we are able to make meaningful difference to the level of care delivered by the NHS and improve patient experience. We have a fantastic story to tell, one that is delivering measurable impact, and I am looking forward to working across the business to promote the work we do to our stakeholders."